Official Cambridge Parents of Applicants thread 2023

Original post by Ulf

I was following the applicants thread last autumn and went through the year-before-thread as well and somehow got a feeling that the amount of anon posters last autumn was considerably larger than the year before. And a sense of entitlement as well... although clutching-at-straws posts were not overwhelmingly frequent.

I know, and people often use anons to say.nasty things

Agreed

Hi~ We are from overseas. And my daughter will be an International Student starting 2022 at Cambridge. We have arranged flights for her to arrive, 2 days before College orientation. However, our college cannot confirm if accommodation can be arranged at the moment. So I tried looking for hotels in Cambridge, but they do not accept under 18 to check-in by herself.

Any accommodation advise for under 18 in Cambridge? Or we can only wait for College reply?

Thanks

Reply 24

Anonneemouse

5

Just had a quick Google for you and there is a youth hostel in Cambridge. No idea on their age restrictions etc. but main website suggests 16+ so might be worth making contact with them? Quite common for UK hotels to not allow under 18s to stay without an adult

Reply 25

Peterhouse Admissions

Official Rep

13

Original post by aaq1

this may not be unique situation. @Peterhouse Admissions may be able to provide some ideas/suggestions. Can the college accomodation not accept them sooner. At Oxford they ask if you need to arrive earlier and hence, need accommodation sooner.

@KKDDMOM

Unless they're asking to arrive substantially early, then colleges can usually accommodate students. I wouldn't bank on this being the case, but it's certainly not impossible. I would strongly advise waiting for the college to get back - staying in a hotel with a large amount of luggage only to move two days later is not ideal. Have the college given you any idea of when they might be able to tell you if they can offer her accommodation outside of the usual license period?

Reply 26

Doones

Original post by Oxford Mum

Is it my imagination, but were there far fewer ( if any) anons in the Oxbridge threads when I started out in 2017?

Back in the day you couldn't be anon in unis threads.
And when it came in it was rarely used.

Reply 27

KKDDMOM

Original post by Peterhouse Admissions

@KKDDMOM

Unless they're asking to arrive substantially early, then colleges can usually accommodate students. I wouldn't bank on this being the case, but it's certainly not impossible. I would strongly advise waiting for the college to get back - staying in a hotel with a large amount of luggage only to move two days later is not ideal. Have the college given you any idea of when they might be able to tell you if they can offer her accommodation outside of the usual license per

Thank you for all your advice and replies. We will email college again and explain our situation.

As travel is not as easy as before on our side, but I’m still having the hopes to visit my daughter in Cambridge soon.

Reply 28

Original post by Doones

Back in the day you couldn't be anon in unis threads.
And when it came in it was rarely used.

I wish we could go back to when we needed to be ourselves

Reply 29

Peterhouse Admissions

Official Rep

13

Looking back to the 2021 entry threads, I can see lots of posts from accounts with names such as 'username234323675' but no actually anonymous posts. Maybe I haven't gone back far enough, or maybe it wasn't possible to post anonymously. On the 2022 thread (which has seen fewer posts), we have got at least 440 anonymous posters, which is... a lot.

Reply 30

KKDDMOM

As preparing things for daughter, I started to ache and getting emotional. I know this is a phase for parents too. But I’m still aching within, especially when in office, not that much when at home. I understand she’s going home 10 months later. But I can’t help keep thinking she’s not with us in family gatherings and festive seasons, or our mother-daughter Saturday brunch together, and those ballet performances. I know I will cry hard when sending her off in airport, and weep all the way back home. It’s a little bit difficult for me now. But I’m holding my emotions at home, cos obviously she is excited for her new adventures.

Reply 31

Original post by KKDDMOM

As preparing things for daughter, I started to ache and getting emotional. I know this is a phase for parents too. But I’m still aching within, especially when in office, not that much when at home. I understand she’s going home 10 months later. But I can’t help keep thinking she’s not with us in family gatherings and festive seasons, or our mother-daughter Saturday brunch together, and those ballet performances. I know I will cry hard when sending her off in airport, and weep all the way back home. It’s a little bit difficult for me now. But I’m holding my emotions at home, cos obviously she is excited for her new adventures.

I understand this completely, as a parent myself. It must be even harder if she is an overseas student.

I can remember my younger son going off to Oxford. I watched him shaking hands with everyone and I had to be literally dragged away by my friend. Over the next two weeks I would be crying and watching youtube videos of Missing by Everything but the Girl.

Then I was invited by my son to formal dinner in the college. I got to see what it was like in the hall and meet some of his friends. The conversation was scintillating and interesting and the students were lovely and welcoming. Finally I realised that he was having fun, and was in great hands! How could I cry about him, when he was obviously so happy! On the way back to the hotel, I was supposed to pick up a suitcase from my other son's college at Exeter. I was so excited and on such a high, I ended up going to next door lincoln college!

Your daughter will meet so many interesting people, blossom academically and have fun joining the societies (my son loved Gilbert and Sullivan).

Cambridge is honestly the best place for her. You still have those wonderful memories of ballet and Saturday brunch. They will never go away. One day you will look proudly back over her career and her Cambridge life with great fondness. You have all that excitement to come and she will be back in the summer.

Reply 32

Anonymous #1

Is there a 2022 entry forum for Cambridge students? Particularly land economy?

Reply 33

KKDDMOM

@Oxfordmum, thank you for your kind words. I will screen-shot your message, and remind myself.

College has replied that my daughter can move-in early (relieved). And the student Visa is also ready to pick up.

Cambridge is going to be the new chapter!

Reply 34

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by KKDDMOM

@Oxfordmum, thank you for your kind words. I will screen-shot your message, and remind myself.

College has replied that my daughter can move-in early (relieved). And the student Visa is also ready to pick up.

Cambridge is going to be the new chapter!

This is the first time I have ever been screen shot, and I loved it! It didn’t even hurt…

just wait for the phone conversations full of new confidence, friends and fun societies

Reply 35

Theloniouss

OP

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Doones

@Theloniouss :wavey:

Sorry! But the 2022 applicants thread seems to have hit the post limit and closed the thread, instead of automatically starting a part 2.
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6655586&p=97536938&page=501#post97536938

Been off round Europe for the past few weeks so I've missed this (sorry!). Should be up soon, pending review for some reason

Reply 36

Theloniouss

OP

wrt the use of anon: Even though it's been available in Universities for a while, it was previously against the rules to use it except for sensitive issues (i.e. identifiable personal details etc.). Recently, in their eternal wisdom, the powers that be decided that it should be allowed - just before the '22 applicants thread, I think. This is the major reason for the uptick in use - I think people previously didn't realise they could use it and so they didn't try, but once enough people do it everyone decides to.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 37

Anonymous #2

Specific question here: Does anyone know how we can get hold of tickets to the BBC recording session of the Carols from Kings concert (filmed in early December)? I’ve been told Kings grads are “offered” them. As a non-Kings grad I’m willing to pay if someone knows a Kings grad who will not use their tickets.

Happy to pay both the Kings grad and the individual who connects me if they’re able to help find tickets (It’s a Christmas gift for my mum who has always wanted to experience it in person).

Reply 38

Doones

Original post by Theloniouss

Been off round Europe for the past few weeks so I've missed this (sorry!). Should be up soon, pending review for some reason

Original post by Theloniouss

wrt the use of anon: Even though it's been available in Universities for a while, it was previously against the rules to use it except for sensitive issues (i.e. identifiable personal details etc.). Recently, in their eternal wisdom, the powers that be decided that it should be allowed - just before the '22 applicants thread, I think. This is the major reason for the uptick in use - I think people previously didn't realise they could use it and so they didn't try, but once enough people do it everyone decides to.

Thank you!

I hope your euro travels were fun!

Reply 39

Astongirl